February 19, 2025 • 11 mins
MLB.com/Astros.com's Brian McTaggart joins The A-Team from West Palm Beach, Fla. He talks about the Astros actually putting a plan in action to play Jose Altuve in left field this season. What does that mean for the overall Astros outfield? What does it mean for Yordan Alvarez's time in the field? He also talks about this Astros lineup, with the additions of Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker. Plus, a concern that he has about the Astros bullpen, before they head into the 2025 season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It felt like it was a good time to bring
(00:01):
in Brian McTaggart of MLB dot Com, who, of course
is he's he's spending time doing the finer things out
there in West Palm Beach that you do in the
middle of February. I'm sure it's not thirty two degrees there, Brian.
But I'm also sure, just based on the last couple
of segments that we've had, that there is like ninety
five percent less drama than what is going on surrounding
(00:25):
second and third base in Boston and where Alex Bregman's
gonna end up playing. I'm not going to say it's
like not the Astros problems, because I'm sure they would
prefer that he had signed there, But is it's kind
of business as usual, so to speak, even for a
team with a lot of new faces in that infield.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It's business as usual with the exception of Josel two
Van left fields every day, so it's been It's weird
because all eyes are on him when he goes to
the field and watching him run around out there. But
to go to your I'm out here for a walk
and I'm listening to you guys on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, the weather comes on and the guy says breezy
in a high forty one and I'm like, what because
it's like eighty five here. So anyway, and enjoyed the
forty one. But no, I mean, you know, we're not
without storylines here, you know, beginning and ending with with
Altuvey and left field. I mean, this is real, this
is happening. And three days into full workouts, he's been
(01:24):
in the outfield three days, has yet to field.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
A ground ball at least that that we've seen.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And you know, they go out and they sign a
second baseman yesterday in Brendan Rodgers, which leads you to
believe that they are really they are really hell bent
on Jose Altuve playing left field, which I think they are.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
What do you think is a smaller number of games
played next season this twenty twenty five season for the
Astros al Tuovey games at second or Alvarez games in
left field.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I think it'll be Alvarez in left field.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I mean, I think they want to pretty much make
him a full time d H as much as they can.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I mean, they're not gonna be able to do it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
But I do think that with that, every day that passes,
I'm more and more convinced that Jose al Tube is
going to play uh more games and left than he
will in second h Joe Spotta keeps saying, we're not
abandoning second base. He's still going to play second base,
but all signs point to them to him being.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Their starting left fielder.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
And interesting that that Joe said this morning, the first
time al two day peer appears in the grape Fruit
League game, he will be in the outfield.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
So that's going to be down the road.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I think that's going to be probably seven, eight, nine
games into the season. But again, I mean if he
goes out there and he doesn't look good, I mean
I think they'll have to pivot to something else. But uh,
he has been working really, really hard in the outfield
today during VP, he was out there all over the
place running down balls, and I guarantee he's probably way
more tired after three days of the camp that he's
(02:50):
been at any point in his career.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
You've seen all the left fielders the Astros have employed
since moving into the now named again ballpark, Dyke Park.
Can you imagine Jose playing at least as well as
some of the guys who've been out there.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I mean, I think he'll be okay out there. I
mean he is athletic enough to run balls down. I
mean it is a little funky out there with the
milk and left field, but you know, everybody's dealt with that,
and at times they haven't exactly looked good. I mean,
Carlos Lee played left field for a few years and.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
He didn't move well at all.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think the biggest thing is gonna be the throws,
decisions that he makes, and things like that. But I
think he's gonna have no problem running down balls in
the gap, getting balls over his shoulder coming in for balls.
It's more the I guess, the instincts of left field,
and that's probably what's gonna be something that they're going
to bang into him really good this this spring. One
(03:46):
of the most important people is probably gonna be jere
mc penna, his cutoff man. He's gonna have to go
out there, get those relay throws, maybe play a little bit,
you know, deeper during the relays and cutoffs than that
he does, just to make sure that Josel's it just
doesn't have to you know, throw the ball as far
as is maybe an accomplished left fielder would or someone
(04:06):
who's been at the position.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
For all his career.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Talking to Brian McTaggart of MLB dot com, he is
in West Palm Beach, where the Astros continue spring training. Yeah,
that's that's the storyline. The other storyline is obviously not
just Alex Bregman, but Kyle Tucker Ryan Presley's departure. Which
one of those, at the end of the day do
you end up thinking affects the Astros the most in
twenty twenty five specifically.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's probably going to be Pressley.
I mean, it's weird to say that considering Tucker's, you know,
a top fifteen hitter in this game.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
He's not in your lineup anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
But you know, they did add Christian Walker, they do
have Peretas who's you know, gonna put up, you know,
as a chance to maybe hit thirty home runs in
this ballpark. But losing Presley punches a big hole in
your bullpen. And and now you move a bray you
up to the eight thenning you know, Joe spotted a
not want a bray you to throw seventy seven games
(05:02):
this year, So who's going to be your seventh inning guy.
They already have a couple of minor injuries in the
bullpens so far. Sean Dubin isn't throwing, Tayler Bard has
an oblique and it looks like he's going to be
down a while.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
There's just not the quality depth.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I mean, last year they went in, Hey, we have
seven eight nine Presley, a brallier Presley, and hater best
seven eight nine in baseball. Maybe it didn't turn out
that way, but now you just have eight nine. Maybe
Taylor Scott does what he did last year, but I
think that's gonna be their biggest issues, just a bullpen.
I think they're gonna score runs. They will miss Tucker,
but I mean, look at the surge they made last
(05:37):
year when Tucker was out for three months.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
That's when they made up those ten games. But I
think the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bullpen could be a real issue, especially when you try
to stay away from a bray you throwing his arm
out and pitching in eighty games.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Yeah, I probably would say. I had both Ort and
Dubin slated to be a part of the opening day roster,
Ort likely being the seventh inning guy. Two other bullpen
arms of interest are for very different reasons. Forrest Whitley,
curious what you think the Astros might look to him
for this year. Also a guy who probably makes the
opening day roster. And Rafael Montero just simply because of
(06:12):
all the guys they have out there beyond eight nine
A brall you and Hater, they just really don't have
many pitchers who've even done it before. And I know
he wasn't successful last season, but where do you think
things are for Montero trying to claim a forty man
and ultimately a spot on the twenty six.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I did a roster projection just before camp and I
had him made it. I had him making the roster
and that was before you know Ort He's gonna be
out a while, And you know, I'm not sure what
Dubin's status is, So yeah, I like you said, I mean,
he's probably the most experienced guy they have after Hater
and a Braw's. So unless he just totally falls on
his face in the spring, I have him making it.
(06:52):
You know, they have a couple of lefties that they're
in competition, Okert, Brian Kinging. We saw him last year.
One of those guys, for sure, is probably gonna make it.
You know, I think Whitley looks very very good to
make it. Haven't really seen I don't, I don't. I
think he threw a live VP earlier this week. Haven't
had a chance to see him yet, but he seems
like he's in a very good frame of mind. So again,
(07:12):
these most of these guys are guys who do not
have much experience or or tons of experience, and you're
going to count on somebody to get some big outs
in six seventh inning because we know, you know, these
starters generally don't go longer than six innings, So something
to keep an eye on. Also, I mean, did they
look to at a reliever at some point? I mean,
I think they've inquired about sum relievers, But even at
(07:33):
this point in the season, the price tag is a
little too high for them. So you know, maybe a
couple of weeks down the road, when some of these
arms that are still in the free agent mark I
don't have jobs, they'll be maybe more willing to look
at getting a deal for a little bit less money
and enjoying the astros.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Brian is the semi panic over the status of the
outfield in general, properly rated, overrated, underrated.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I think it's properly late, properly rated. I mean, I
think people are really concerned about it. I mean, to me,
that's the two biggest concerns about this team or outfield,
just because you're losing. You're losing two huge bats in
the outfield and Tucker and Alvarez basically, and you're you're
counting on Myerson McCormick, two guys who did not have
good offensive seasons, and you're counting on your your star
(08:19):
second basement to play left field. So I think it's
probably properly related to the fact that so many Astros
fans are like, you know, what do we do in
the outfield. It's uh, It's gonna be something that I
think will evolve as the season goes on. If at
least one of those two guys Myers and McCormick can
step up, I think that'll be huge. You know, they
brought in Gamble, does Taylor Tremmel give them anything again?
(08:42):
Sort of like the bullpen situation, You're gonna have to
count on some guys or at least open the season
with a guy or two who doesn't have a huge
track record of being a productive big leaguer. So just overall,
they don't have the depth across the board that they've
had in years past, and that's rotation, you know, beyond
the starting five, that's their position players and certainly the
(09:03):
bullpen as well.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Rob probably won't really have an answer for this until
he pitches against competition, whether that's in a spring game
or some sort of live VP. But do you have
a different feeling having covered the injured years of Lance
mccullor's junior do you have a different feeling for what
this season portends for him, especially with a timeline that
(09:25):
suggests a healthy Lance mccullors could be a reality sometime
in you know, late April or early May.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, I think there's always going to be a sense
of wait and see with Lance. But I do get
talking to him a week ago when when camp started
for pitchers, that he was probably in one of the
better frames of mind that he's been in for a while.
I mean, we haven't talked to Lance a lot in
the last two years, but like you said, there does
seem to be you know, the loose outline of a
timeline here. He wants to be in games by the
(09:55):
end of camp, which would be huge. And if he
opens the season on rehab, that's thirty days before he
has to be activated. So you're looking at if he
does the whole thirty days, you're looking at May perhaps
when he comes back. So he got to see him
throw off the mound a couple of days ago. He
certainly looks like a guy's healthy. He has a more
(10:15):
compact delivery a little bit talk about sort of changing
his mechanics over the off season for you know, one
of the reasons was helped, but one of the reasons
was effectiveness as well. So he I think we can
say that Lance mccullors will probably impact this roster in
the first half of the season, and that would be
a huge development for the Astros if they can get
back a guy who, when he's been healthy, has been really,
(10:38):
really good.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com just doing what he does best.
By the way, you bring him back the malet this year.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I might. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
It's weird because one day I'm like, I'm cool with it,
the next day I'm not. I mean, I got it
cut pretty good before I came down here.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Just because it's really windy, so I don't know. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
At some point I'm just gonna have to go all
in and just go all in mullet and just see
where it takes me.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
But I haven't got to that point yet. All Right.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I'm looking forward to it one way or the other,
and we appreciate the time. Good to catch up with
you and look forward to doing it again very soon, Brian.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
All Right, guys, I'll have a good day.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
YouTube Brian McTaggart MLB dot com here on Sports Talk
seven ninety
It felt like it was a good time to bring
(00:01):
in Brian McTaggart of MLB dot Com, who, of course
is he's he's spending time doing the finer things out
there in West Palm Beach that you do in the
middle of February. I'm sure it's not thirty two degrees there, Brian.
But I'm also sure, just based on the last couple
of segments that we've had, that there is like ninety
five percent less drama than what is going on surrounding
(00:25):
second and third base in Boston and where Alex Bregman's
gonna end up playing. I'm not going to say it's
like not the Astros problems, because I'm sure they would
prefer that he had signed there, But is it's kind
of business as usual, so to speak, even for a
team with a lot of new faces in that infield.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It's business as usual with the exception of Josel two
Van left fields every day, so it's been It's weird
because all eyes are on him when he goes to
the field and watching him run around out there. But
to go to your I'm out here for a walk
and I'm listening to you guys on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, the weather comes on and the guy says breezy
in a high forty one and I'm like, what because
it's like eighty five here. So anyway, and enjoyed the
forty one. But no, I mean, you know, we're not
without storylines here, you know, beginning and ending with with
Altuvey and left field. I mean, this is real, this
is happening. And three days into full workouts, he's been
(01:24):
in the outfield three days, has yet to field.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
A ground ball at least that that we've seen.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And you know, they go out and they sign a
second baseman yesterday in Brendan Rodgers, which leads you to
believe that they are really they are really hell bent
on Jose Altuve playing left field, which I think they are.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
What do you think is a smaller number of games
played next season this twenty twenty five season for the
Astros al Tuovey games at second or Alvarez games in
left field.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
I think it'll be Alvarez in left field.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I mean, I think they want to pretty much make
him a full time d H as much as they can.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I mean, they're not gonna be able to do it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
But I do think that with that, every day that passes,
I'm more and more convinced that Jose al Tube is
going to play uh more games and left than he
will in second h Joe Spotta keeps saying, we're not
abandoning second base. He's still going to play second base,
but all signs point to them to him being.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Their starting left fielder.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
And interesting that that Joe said this morning, the first
time al two day peer appears in the grape Fruit
League game, he will be in the outfield.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
So that's going to be down the road.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I think that's going to be probably seven, eight, nine
games into the season. But again, I mean if he
goes out there and he doesn't look good, I mean
I think they'll have to pivot to something else. But uh,
he has been working really, really hard in the outfield
today during VP, he was out there all over the
place running down balls, and I guarantee he's probably way
more tired after three days of the camp that he's
(02:50):
been at any point in his career.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
You've seen all the left fielders the Astros have employed
since moving into the now named again ballpark, Dyke Park.
Can you imagine Jose playing at least as well as
some of the guys who've been out there.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I mean, I think he'll be okay out there. I
mean he is athletic enough to run balls down. I
mean it is a little funky out there with the
milk and left field, but you know, everybody's dealt with that,
and at times they haven't exactly looked good. I mean,
Carlos Lee played left field for a few years and.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
He didn't move well at all.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think the biggest thing is gonna be the throws,
decisions that he makes, and things like that. But I
think he's gonna have no problem running down balls in
the gap, getting balls over his shoulder coming in for balls.
It's more the I guess, the instincts of left field,
and that's probably what's gonna be something that they're going
to bang into him really good this this spring. One
(03:46):
of the most important people is probably gonna be jere
mc penna, his cutoff man. He's gonna have to go
out there, get those relay throws, maybe play a little bit,
you know, deeper during the relays and cutoffs than that
he does, just to make sure that Josel's it just
doesn't have to you know, throw the ball as far
as is maybe an accomplished left fielder would or someone
(04:06):
who's been at the position.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
For all his career.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Talking to Brian McTaggart of MLB dot com, he is
in West Palm Beach, where the Astros continue spring training. Yeah,
that's that's the storyline. The other storyline is obviously not
just Alex Bregman, but Kyle Tucker Ryan Presley's departure. Which
one of those, at the end of the day do
you end up thinking affects the Astros the most in
twenty twenty five specifically.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's probably going to be Pressley.
I mean, it's weird to say that considering Tucker's, you know,
a top fifteen hitter in this game.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
He's not in your lineup anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
But you know, they did add Christian Walker, they do
have Peretas who's you know, gonna put up, you know,
as a chance to maybe hit thirty home runs in
this ballpark. But losing Presley punches a big hole in
your bullpen. And and now you move a bray you
up to the eight thenning you know, Joe spotted a
not want a bray you to throw seventy seven games
(05:02):
this year, So who's going to be your seventh inning guy.
They already have a couple of minor injuries in the
bullpens so far. Sean Dubin isn't throwing, Tayler Bard has
an oblique and it looks like he's going to be
down a while.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
There's just not the quality depth.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I mean, last year they went in, Hey, we have
seven eight nine Presley, a brallier Presley, and hater best
seven eight nine in baseball. Maybe it didn't turn out
that way, but now you just have eight nine. Maybe
Taylor Scott does what he did last year, but I
think that's gonna be their biggest issues, just a bullpen.
I think they're gonna score runs. They will miss Tucker,
but I mean, look at the surge they made last
(05:37):
year when Tucker was out for three months.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
That's when they made up those ten games. But I
think the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bullpen could be a real issue, especially when you try
to stay away from a bray you throwing his arm
out and pitching in eighty games.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Yeah, I probably would say. I had both Ort and
Dubin slated to be a part of the opening day roster,
Ort likely being the seventh inning guy. Two other bullpen
arms of interest are for very different reasons. Forrest Whitley,
curious what you think the Astros might look to him
for this year. Also a guy who probably makes the
opening day roster. And Rafael Montero just simply because of
(06:12):
all the guys they have out there beyond eight nine
A brall you and Hater, they just really don't have
many pitchers who've even done it before. And I know
he wasn't successful last season, but where do you think
things are for Montero trying to claim a forty man
and ultimately a spot on the twenty six.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I did a roster projection just before camp and I
had him made it. I had him making the roster
and that was before you know Ort He's gonna be
out a while, And you know, I'm not sure what
Dubin's status is, So yeah, I like you said, I mean,
he's probably the most experienced guy they have after Hater
and a Braw's. So unless he just totally falls on
his face in the spring, I have him making it.
(06:52):
You know, they have a couple of lefties that they're
in competition, Okert, Brian Kinging. We saw him last year.
One of those guys, for sure, is probably gonna make it.
You know, I think Whitley looks very very good to
make it. Haven't really seen I don't, I don't. I
think he threw a live VP earlier this week. Haven't
had a chance to see him yet, but he seems
like he's in a very good frame of mind. So again,
(07:12):
these most of these guys are guys who do not
have much experience or or tons of experience, and you're
going to count on somebody to get some big outs
in six seventh inning because we know, you know, these
starters generally don't go longer than six innings, So something
to keep an eye on. Also, I mean, did they
look to at a reliever at some point? I mean,
I think they've inquired about sum relievers, But even at
(07:33):
this point in the season, the price tag is a
little too high for them. So you know, maybe a
couple of weeks down the road, when some of these
arms that are still in the free agent mark I
don't have jobs, they'll be maybe more willing to look
at getting a deal for a little bit less money
and enjoying the astros.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Brian is the semi panic over the status of the
outfield in general, properly rated, overrated, underrated.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I think it's properly late, properly rated. I mean, I
think people are really concerned about it. I mean, to me,
that's the two biggest concerns about this team or outfield,
just because you're losing. You're losing two huge bats in
the outfield and Tucker and Alvarez basically, and you're you're
counting on Myerson McCormick, two guys who did not have
good offensive seasons, and you're counting on your your star
(08:19):
second basement to play left field. So I think it's
probably properly related to the fact that so many Astros
fans are like, you know, what do we do in
the outfield. It's uh, It's gonna be something that I
think will evolve as the season goes on. If at
least one of those two guys Myers and McCormick can
step up, I think that'll be huge. You know, they
brought in Gamble, does Taylor Tremmel give them anything again?
(08:42):
Sort of like the bullpen situation, You're gonna have to
count on some guys or at least open the season
with a guy or two who doesn't have a huge
track record of being a productive big leaguer. So just overall,
they don't have the depth across the board that they've
had in years past, and that's rotation, you know, beyond
the starting five, that's their position players and certainly the
(09:03):
bullpen as well.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Rob probably won't really have an answer for this until
he pitches against competition, whether that's in a spring game
or some sort of live VP. But do you have
a different feeling having covered the injured years of Lance
mccullor's junior do you have a different feeling for what
this season portends for him, especially with a timeline that
(09:25):
suggests a healthy Lance mccullors could be a reality sometime
in you know, late April or early May.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Yeah, I think there's always going to be a sense
of wait and see with Lance. But I do get
talking to him a week ago when when camp started
for pitchers, that he was probably in one of the
better frames of mind that he's been in for a while.
I mean, we haven't talked to Lance a lot in
the last two years, but like you said, there does
seem to be you know, the loose outline of a
timeline here. He wants to be in games by the
(09:55):
end of camp, which would be huge. And if he
opens the season on rehab, that's thirty days before he
has to be activated. So you're looking at if he
does the whole thirty days, you're looking at May perhaps
when he comes back. So he got to see him
throw off the mound a couple of days ago. He
certainly looks like a guy's healthy. He has a more
(10:15):
compact delivery a little bit talk about sort of changing
his mechanics over the off season for you know, one
of the reasons was helped, but one of the reasons
was effectiveness as well. So he I think we can
say that Lance mccullors will probably impact this roster in
the first half of the season, and that would be
a huge development for the Astros if they can get
back a guy who, when he's been healthy, has been really,
(10:38):
really good.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Brian McTaggart MLB dot Com just doing what he does best.
By the way, you bring him back the malet this year.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I might. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
It's weird because one day I'm like, I'm cool with it,
the next day I'm not. I mean, I got it
cut pretty good before I came down here.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Just because it's really windy, so I don't know. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
At some point I'm just gonna have to go all
in and just go all in mullet and just see
where it takes me.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
But I haven't got to that point yet. All Right.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I'm looking forward to it one way or the other,
and we appreciate the time. Good to catch up with
you and look forward to doing it again very soon, Brian.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
All Right, guys, I'll have a good day.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
YouTube Brian McTaggart MLB dot com here on Sports Talk
seven ninety
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